March 27, 1997 (Day 8 – milepoint 71.2 – Plum Orchard Gap Shelter)
A silent voice woke me like an alarm clock. It said, “Your heart is your guide. Your brain is your guard. Let each play its role.” Not sure where that came from. I felt like a spectator…
Ned and Roaming Gnome got a ride back to the trail while I stayed in town to finish up a couple of letters and send a few more things home (gloves, film, spare shirt and shorts, book, water filter cartridge…). Elanda, the owner of the motel, said she’d drive me back to the trail when I was ready. When I was in the post office, a lady walked up to me and said, “ya know, there’s gold up in them-there hills,” and she explained how I could find it in the streams. An odd, but interesting, conversation. I told her I was finding gold everywhere up there and she seemed to have understood what I meant.
Got back up to the trailhead in mid afternoon and meandered 4.3 miles to PlumOrchard Gap Shelter. Pretty cool shelter with three levels. Had to walk back about 2 miles to find my hat that I left on a log during a short break. It was like walking on air without my pack. For a good part of the evening, I sat and chatted with thru-hiker, Just an Echo. He’s an alcoholic who’s been dry for 16 years and also recently quit smoking after 40 years. He’s on his fourth and last thru-hike attempt. He said that due to his alcoholism, he hasn’t spoken with his children since 1986. He said he recently heard he’s a great-grandfather now. A very pleasant fellow. Honest, open, and humble. I want so much for him to make it to Maine.
-Joe
March 27, 2009
It is very rare that I just feel like getting drunk. Today is a rare day.
